# US 2014/0197167 A1 · Snap-fold containers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197167 A1 - Document ID: US20140197167A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/157,001 - Filed: 2014-01-16 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-16 - Assignees: Mandarin Associates Ltd. - Applicants: Mandarin Associates Ltd. - Inventors: Barro de Gast - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197167A1 ## CPC - B65D 11/1833: {whereby all side walls are hingedly connected to the base panel (B65D11/186 takes precedence)} - B65D 11/18: {collapsible, i.e. with walls hinged together or detachably connected} - B65D 59/04: Sleeves, e.g. postal tubes - B65D 5/0209: {the tubular body having a curved or partially curved cross-section} - B65D 5/2023: {the folded-up portions being folded along non-rectilinear fold-lines} - B65D 5/2057: {Inter-engaging self-locking flaps (B65D5/4254 takes precedence)} - B65D 5/3685: {by folding the blank to U-shape to form the base and opposite sides, the remaining sides being formed by extensions of these opposite sides} - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract The invention disclosed includes various durable containers constructed from sheet materials including a plurality of living hinges. The containers are configured to snap into an assembled position from a relatively flat position by the application of pressure to one or more sidewalls wherein that pressure deforms the one or more sidewalls into a concave position, thereby holding the container into place until the contain is collapsed once again for storage or cleaning. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A collapsible container constructed from a single sheet of material comprising: first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls defined on the sheet of material, wherein the first sidewall is provided opposite the third sidewall and the second sidewall is provided opposite the fourth sidewall; a substantially planar bottom surface defined on the sheet of material; an interior compartment surrounded on four sides by said first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls and on the bottom by said substantially planar bottom surface; an upper rim projecting inwardly from each of the sidewalls; and at least three living hinges integrally formed in each of said first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls, wherein said living hinges are positioned in a manner permitting the container to be easily snapped into an assembled position, and further wherein a first top living hinge at the juncture of the upper rim and the first sidewall follows a curved path, and a second top living hinge at the juncture of the upper rim and the third sidewall follows a curved path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The collapsible container provided by claim 1 further comprising a cover, wherein the cover is constructed from a single sheet of material and contains at least one opening sized to receive the collapsible container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The collapsible container provided by claim 1 wherein the single sheet of material is a polymer plastic material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The collapsible container provided by claim 3, wherein the at least three living hinges for the first and third sidewalls consist of a straight living hinge and two curved living hinges and wherein the curved living hinges have substantially opposing radii of curvature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The collapsible container provided by claim 2, wherein the single sheet of material forming the cover is a polymer plastic material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The collapsible container provided by claim 1 wherein the first and third sidewalls are bowed generally inwardly towards each other when the container is assembled and the first and fourth sidewalls are substantially parallel to one another when the container is assembled. ### Claim 7 A collapsible container constructed from flat sheet material comprising: first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls, wherein the first sidewall is provided opposite the third sidewall and the second sidewall is provided opposite the fourth sidewall; a bottom surface, the bottom surface integrally formed with at least one of the sidewalls; an interior compartment defined on four sides by the first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls and on the bottom by the bottom surface; wherein the sheet material comprises a polymer plastic material; and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls collectively comprise at least six living hinges, and further wherein at least two of the living hinges follow a curved path; whereby the collapsible container is selectively configurable between a first position in which the collapsible container is substantially flat, and a second position in which the collapsible container is expanded and in which the sidewalls and bottom surface define an interior space. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The collapsible container of claim 7 wherein the first and third sidewalls further comprise a handle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The collapsible container of claim 7 wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls is configured in a concave position when the container is in the second position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The collapsible container of claim 7 wherein the first and third sidewalls are positioned in a concave position and the second and fourth sidewalls are in a convex position when the container is in the second position. ### Claim 11 A configurable container, comprising: first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls, wherein the first sidewall is provided opposite the third sidewall and the second sidewall is provided opposite the fourth sidewall; a floor integrally formed with at least one of the sidewalls; the first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls being joined to the floor to form an interior space; at least one of the sidewalls or the floor further comprising a plurality of through-holes formed in interior locations of the sidewall or the floor; each of the sidewalls and the floor being formed from sheet material, the container further comprising a plurality of living hinges, at least two of the plurality of living hinges following a curved path; whereby the container is selectively configurable between a first position in which the collapsible container is substantially flat, and a second position in which the collapsible container is expanded. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The container of claim 11 wherein the container is constructed from first, second, and third sheets of material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The container of claim 12 wherein the three separate sheets of material are polymer plastic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The container of claim 12 wherein the first and third sidewalls each comprise an upper rim, and at least one of the first and third sidewalls is formed to include a spout. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The container of claim 12 wherein the first sheet of material integrally forms the floor and the first and third sidewalls, the second sheet of material forms the second sidewall, and the third sheet of material forms the fourth sidewall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The container of claim 11, further comprising at least a pair of handles formed in at least two of the first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The container of claim 11 wherein the first sidewall further comprises a plurality of fingers formed in the first sidewall, the plurality of fingers lying in a plane defined by the first sidewall when the container is in the first position, the plurality of fingers extending angularly away from the first sidewall when the container is in the second position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The container of claim 17 further comprising a plurality of openings formed adjacent the plurality of fingers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The container of claim 11 wherein at least one sidewall further comprises a series of ribs, the ribs projecting inward into the interior space when the container is in the second position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The container of claim 11 wherein the floor includes a series of ribs extending upward from the floor, the series of ribs being aligned in a row.